Oral Health and Cannabis

Earlier this month Colorado and Washington state voters passed initiatives to make Cannabis legal for recreational use in their respective states- the first in the nation to do so. 16 other States along with the District of Colombia allow for the legal use of medical cannabis. In October 2011 a Gallup poll showed 50% of Americans support legalizing the drug, compared to 46% maintaining it should remain illegal. Although debates regarding medicinal benefits of Cannabis have raged on for decades, its widely established benefits and clinical applications relate to the treatment of specific symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and stimulation of appetite stemming from chemotherapy and AIDS treatments. Research has also shown preliminary findings indicating cannabis-based drugs prove useful in treating migraines, asthma, and glaucoma, among other relatively common conditions. Even more promising are studies indicating cannabis may be useful in the treatment of debilitating diseases such as ALS, hepatitis C, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, sickle-cell disease, and others. Promising medical applications coupled with its mainstream recreational appeal make cannabis the most frequently used illicit drug in the U.S. Our exuberance over cannabis should however be tempered by evidence of existing health risks, especially to younger or habitual users of the drug.

People have generally cast aside “reefer madness” theories and notions that marijuana use inevitably culminates in the destruction of the mind, so have they also begun to question the concept that it is totally benign. Much of the research pertaining to cannabis’ harmful affects focuses on its status as a “gateway” drug and links to schizophrenia and other psychoses triggered by the THC, the psychoactive ingredient in pot; however, the more pervasive issue may be something much more mundane- lung and oral disease. Since smoking is still the primary way cannabis is consumed, its high tar content is especially damaging to younger smokers. Because of the high concentration of chemicals, smoking a joint has been reported to have the same effect on the tracheobronchial epithelium as smoking 20 tobacco cigarettes (Fligiel, 1997). Someone who smokes five marijuana cigarettes a week may take in as much cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a pack of cigarettes a day (Hale, 2007).

Researchers have also concluded that smoking cannabis may be a risk factor for the development of gum disease that is independent of the use of tobacco. San Leandro, CA dentist Dr. Elena Davidson has seen evidence that validates this claim. ” When we see younger patients with progressing periodontal disease we try to probe for the root cause, and in some cases have concluded that frequent marijuana smoking may contribute to the condition,” says Dr. Davidson, who also noted that both diabetes and heart disease have been linked to gum disease. According to Dr. Davidson there are conflicting studies regarding oral cancer related to marijuana but no such ambiguity about risks associated with smoking in general (not specifically marijuana)- “most of my patients see me more than they visit their doctor so we make sure to urge everyone to get an oral cancer screening while they’re here, and insist on it if there are any intra-oral irregularities or if they have any risk factors such as smoking and drinking alcohol.” Hopefully the passage of new laws in Colorado and Washington can help alleviate the haze of contradiction and give researchers plenty of data in examining the medical harms and benefits of cannabis with a much greater sampling than has ever been available.

Smell The Truth

Smell The Truth is one of the internet's most popular destinations for cannabis-related news and culture. This blog is not written or edited by SFGate or the San Francisco Chronicle. The authors are solely responsible for the content.